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From the employer's careers site First seen 31 Oct 2026 · Still live on 4 Nov 2026

Software Engineer - Diagnostic/BSP Team

Cisco Milpitas, California senior full-time

Salary

$186,900 to $267,700 per year

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Description

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) at Cisco is seeking skilled software engineers to join our Diagnostic/BSP team, responsible for ensuring the reliability and performance of our world-class hardware.

Our team develops software for Cisco’s network switches and routers, which feature advanced application awareness to build a flexible and agile network infrastructure. These capabilities support multi-layered responses to the diverse workload demands of AI and ML.

Your Impact

  • Architect, design, and develop BIOS, BSP, and Diagnostics for Cisco Core and Edge routing products.
  • Design, develop, and test kernel and user space device drivers for FPGA and networking peripherals.
  • Develop and execute software test plans.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to debug prototypes and validate software.
  • Lead technical reviews and discussions across teams.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 10+ years experience, or Master’s degree with 8+ years experience.
  • Prior experience in C, C++, and Python programming.
  • Previous experience with hardware and device driver development background, including experience with Linux hardware bring-up.
  • Prior experience with Sonic, ONIE, BMC, IPMI, and/or Redfish technologies.
  • Prior experience in developing, debugging, and validating embedded systems and device drivers for protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, and/or GPIO.

Preferred Skills

  • Proficient in kernel debugging tools such as GDB and KGDB.
  • Prior experience developing software from concept through delivery for large-scale, high-bandwidth systems.
  • Previous experience in troubleshooting software defects from kernel modules to applications.
  • Prior experience with collaborative system design, specification writing, and requirements review.
  • Commitment to quality, mentoring, and continuous learning in networking, optics, and embedded systems.
  • Experience with AI/ML.
  • Knowledge of Layer 2/3 network protocols.
  • Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills.
  • Experience with network processors and optical networking.
  • Familiarity with secure-boot, open-source tools, CMIS, and SFF standards (SFP, QSFP).
  • Strong communication skills and knowledge of software quality processes.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
  • Paid parental leave
  • Short and long-term disability coverage
  • Basic life insurance
  • Paid time away (vacation, holidays, sick time)
  • Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

Skills

Required

  • C
  • C++
  • Python
  • Linux
  • hardware development
  • device driver development
  • Sonic
  • ONIE
  • BMC
  • IPMI
  • Redfish
  • I2C
  • SPI
  • UART
  • PCIe
  • GPIO

Nice to have

  • GDB
  • KGDB
  • large-scale system development
  • troubleshooting
  • debugging
  • collaborative system design
  • AI/ML
  • Layer 2/3 network protocols
  • network processors
  • optical networking
  • secure-boot
  • open-source tools
  • CMIS
  • SFF standards

Ready to apply?

You apply with the employer directly. Their original posting is here: https://cisco.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Cisco_Careers/job/Milpitas-California-US/Software-Engineering-Technical-Leader_2004012

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